Serious Eats Sandwich Festival Profile: Best Pizza's Meatball Sub

We'll be spotlighting all of the delicious sandwiches, desserts, and drinks you'll find at the Serious Eats All-Star Sandwich Festival from now until the big day. Hungry yet? Obvious next question, have you bought your tickets yet?

"Wow. That might be the best meatball sandwich I've ever had," said our man Ed when Adam brought back one of these from Best Pizza in Williamsburg. We were all dying to try it after that endorsement, and this photo. Just look at that thing.

The meatballs are made from a mixture of Pat La Frieda short rib, fresh herbs, some pecorino Romano, and ricotta. And if you're staring as close as we are, you probably noted that slightly charred edge: they're blasted in the wood-fired oven to get that slightly chewy sear. The meatballs are topped with the same sauce used on Best's grandma pie: crushed tomatoes, garlic, and finely chopped anchovies, all reduced to a thick, savory sauce, with—get this—the rendered fat poured back on top after the meatballs are nestled in the bread.

And, the bread. It's the perfect bread for a meatball sandwich. Crisp-chewy on the outside with a tender crumb and open hole structure that licks up the tomato sauce.

Today's giveaway! Anyone who has purchased a ticket before 6 p.m. EST today will be entered into a drawing for a copy of Jane and Michael Stern's Roadfood Sandwiches. This coast-to-coast guide is a veritable bible for road-tripping sandwich lovers. The Sterns have driven the back roads, chatted up locals, and sought out po' boys, hot browns, and fried bologna finds for years. Roadfood Sandwiches is an atlas of regional sandwiches with a big slice of American history. And if you bring your winning copy to the festival, we'll all sign it!